The Santa Fe Trail got its start in 1821, with an advertisement in the Missouri Intelligencer by William Becknell, seeking men willing to join and invest in a trading expedition to the west. Becknell started on this expedition September 1, 1821 from the Franklin and Arrow Rock area of Missouri, ending at the Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico in November of the same year. His first trip was made with pack animals, the next trip to trade in 1822, Becknell used wagons. The Trail soon became a highway of trade and supply, connecting the southwest area of Santa Fe, New Mexico with eastern trade centers.

One of the most asked question is: "What is the length of the trail?" or "What is the mileage of the Santa Fe Trail taking both the Cimarron and Mountain route?"

In 1990 when the National Park Service surveyed the trail, they came up with these figures:

Mountain Route:Missouri from Old Franklin 130 miles Kansas Montain Route is 401 miles. Colorado Montain Route is 181 miles New Mexico Mountain Route is 197 miles Mountain Route Total -- 909

Cimarron Cutoff: Missouri from Old Franklin is 130 miles Kansas Cimarron Route is 446 miles. Oklahoma Cimarron Route is 46 miles Colorado Cimarron Route is 14 miles New Mexico Cimarron Route is 228 miles Cimarron Cutoff Route Total -- 865

This information taken from the book "Santa Fe National Historic Trail Comprehensive Management and Use Plan" National Park Service, May 1990.